The Intentions of Thunder: New and Selected Poems

"Finally, we have a lot of Patricia Smith’s poetry in one big book. This new-and-selected volume, which won the National Book Award, draws from all of Smith’s collections. Early poems like “What It’s Like to Be a Black Girl (For Those of You Who Aren’t)” fiercely expose the injustice of everyday America, where “there’s something –/ everything – wrong.” With a sweeping cultural and historical memory, and a voice that ranges from keening to hope, Smith argues at times for and at times against “the rampaging theory that the earth/ is shutting down, spurning the pageant of her own murder.” There’s a lot here – sonnets, expert ventriloquy and enough music for a lifetime."